Oscillating lawn sprinkler



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United States Patent O 3,115,305 SCHLLATING LAWN SPRINKLER Isaac Rinkewich, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ., assignor to International Patent Research Corp., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed .lune 21, 1962, Ser. No. 204,167 7 Claims. (Cl. 239-242) The present invention relates to an oscillating lawn sprinkler in which means are provided for varying the width of the area sprinkled.

Oscillating type lawn sprinklers generally comprise a sprinkler unit from which a plurality of streams of water emerge, that unit being oscillated back and forth over a predetermined arc in order to cause the spray emanating therefrom to cover an area of predetermined length. The sprinkler unit usually comprises a tube provided on its surface with a plurality of orifices through which the water spray emerges, the location and orientation of those orifices determining the width of the sprinkled area. The oscillating movement of the sprinkler unit is usually produced by a motor actuated by the flow of liuid into the sprinkler.

One factor which has limited the utility of these devices is their lack of llexibility. They are usually designed to sprinkle only a predetermined area. In order to increase the adaptability of these devices, special adjustable mtion-transmitting linkages have been interposed between the driving motor and the oscillating sprinkler unit, so that the arc of oscillation of that unit can be modiiied, either as to magnitude, location or both, thereby to permit adjustment of the length of the sprinkled area and/ or the location of that sprinkled area relative to the sprinkler assembly. However, similar controlled variation in the width of the sprinkled area has eluded t e art.

It is the prime object of the present invention to devise an oscillating type lawn sprinkler in which the width of the sprinkled area can be varied, thereby permitting the sprinkler assembly to be used in a much wider variety of installations than have previously been possible with devices of this type. It is a further prime object of the present invention to accomplish this width adjustability by means of structure which maintains all of the known advantages of devices of this type, and which adds only a minimal cost to the assembly.

To the accomplishment of the above, the present invention comprises a plurality of sprinkler units such as tubes, each of these units being independently useable and each being designed to sprinkle areas of dilierent Widths. All of the units are mounted for simultaneous oscillation, but only one of the units is rendered operative for sprinkling purposes at any given time. The operator can, with consummate ease, move into operative position that `one of the sprinkler units corresponding to the width of the lawn area to be sprinkled, and thereafter the sprinkler assembly will function in conventional manner as an oscillating type lawn sprinkler.

The sprinkler units, here shown in the form of tubes each having a different pattern of exit orifices therein, are retained in circumferentially spaced relationship and are mounted on the sprinkler support for oscillatory movement relative thereto. They are also mounted on a body which has a fluid outlet opening therein, the sprinkler tubes being adjustably movable relative to that body so as to bring one or another of the tubes into registration with that fluid outlet opening. When the tubes oscillate during the sprinkling operation, said body oscillates with them, so that the selected tube remains operatively connected to the fluid source throughout the sprinkling operation. In the form here disclosed, the driving motor is operatively connected to said body so as to cause that t' u 3,115,305 Ice Patented Dec. 24, 1963 body to oscillate, said body carrying the tubes along with it in oscillation. Means are provided for securing the tube subassembly in desired position relative to the body during this oscillatory movement, that means being releasable in order to permit the tube subassembly to have its position adjusted relative to said body in order to bring a diiferent sprinkler tube into operative position.

In the Iform here speciiically disclosed the longitudinally extending tubes have their ends received in brackets. The bracket at one end is rotatably mounted in a standard extending up from the base. The bracket at the other end is mounted on the body provided with the fluid outlet opening so as to be rotatable therewith during normal sprinkling operation and so as to be manually rotatable relative thereto from one adjusted position to another in order to bring the desired sprinkler tube into operative registration and communication with the outlet opening in the body. The lirst mentioned bracket may be provided with removable plugs which close the ends of the tubes remote from the source of fluid, the removability of those plugs permitting the interior of the tubes to be readily cleaned should they, or the exit orifices formed therein, become clogged with foreign material.

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to the construction of an oscillating type lawn sprinkler, as defined in the appended claims and as described in this specification, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereo;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional View on an enlarged scale taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional View taken along the line 6 6 of FIG. l; and

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 7 7 of FIG. 2.

The embodiment of the present invention here specifically disclosed comprises a base generally designated 2, that base consisting of an elongated ground-engaging portion 4 defined by a pair of spaced rails, from which a pair of standards 6 and 8 extend upwardly. The standard 6 carries at its upper end a housing 10 provided with a mounting plate 12 facing the standard 8 and having an aperture 14 formed therein (see FIG. 6).

The standard 8 comprises a housing 16 provided with a hose coupling attachment 1.3 which communicates with an internal fluid passage which leads to an outlet opening 20 (see FIG. 3). Within the housing ,16, and in operative relation to the fluid passage therethrough, is a liuid actuated motor having an output shaft 22 which extends out forwardly from the housing 15. The internal construction of the housing 16 and its various parts may take a wide variety of tforms, :all as are well known and relatively conventional to `the art, iand the specific details thereof form no part of the present invention. As a result they are not here specifically illustrated. Purely by Way of reference, the internal construction of the `housing rnay be that shown and described in my copending application Ser. No. 53,297, filed August 31, 1960, now U.S. Patent No. 3,073,532, entitled Adjustable Oscillating Lawn Sprinkler, and assigned to the assignee of the yinstant invention.

As is shown in FIG. 3, an open ended tube 24 having a flared inner end 25 is received within `and extends out from 4the opening 2li in the housing 16, and is rotatably mounted in plate 26 secured to the housing 16 in `any appropriate manner, as by screws 27, with a sealing gasket 213 interposed between the plate 26 and the housing 16. A sealing O-ring Sti, held in place by retain-ing washer 312, seals the interface between the tube 24 and the housing opening 2li. Fixed to the outwardly protruding portion of the tube 24 is a cup-shaped support generally designated 34 having a hub portion 36 fast on the tube 24. rPhe support 34 has `a radially extending rear wall 3S and a forwardly extending side Wall 40. A forward extension of the hub 36 defines a fluid-receiving chamber 42 open only at its upper end 44 (as viewed in FG. 3) and communicating with an upper chamber `46. The outer end olf the chambers 42 and 46 `is closed by part 43 received within and secured to the support 34 in any appropriate manner, a sealing `gasket 49 being interposed therebetween to prevent leakage. The part 4S is provided with an outwardly extending post 50 having an internally threaded outwardly opening aperture 52, Ithat post t? being located in line with the axis of the tube 24. The part 48 is also provided, lat a position spaced radially outwardly from said axis, with a iiuid outlet opening S4 communicating with the chamber 46, 'an O-ring 56 surrounding the fluid outlet 54 and extending outwardly from the outer face thereof. At some point circumferentially spaced from the outlet opening 54, and here shown as diametricallly opposed thereto, the support 34 is formed with an outwardly opening chamber 58 rwhich houses a detent ball 6i) outwardly urged by means of compression spring 62.

A crank `arm 64 is connected to the output shaft 22 of the duid-actuated motor, and is in turn connected, by means of a `linkage generally designated 66, to the support 34, thereby to cause the support 34 to oscillate about the axis of the tube 24' as the motor output shaft 22 rotates. As here speciiically disclosed, the linkage 66 comprises a connecting arm 68 pivotally mounted at 70 on the crank arm 64, and in turn pivotally mounted, at 72, on part 74. The part 74 is provided 'with an upstlanding post 76 having an internally threaded aperture 78, that post 76 being received in aperture 801 yformed in bracket 82 extending out from and fixed to the body 34, the bracket 82 and part 74 being secured together by screw S4 received within the opening 78 in the post 76, and by retaining washer 86 held in place by the head of the screw 84. The part "74 carries a detent ball 88 urged outwardly by compression spring 99 and engaging in a selected one of a plurality of depressions 92 formed in the bracket S2, thus releasably fixing the relative rotative positions of the part 74 and the -bracket 82, but permitting the part 74 -to be rotatably adjusted relative to the bracket `82, that adjustment being accomplished by means of :the handle 94- attached to the part 74. The purpose of this arrangement is to permit adjustment of the location of the arc about which the support 34 oscillates when the motor output shaft 22 rotates. Rotation of the shaft 22 will cause the part 7 4 to oscillate about the same length arc at all times, but shifting the position of the rotative part 74 relative `to the bracket 82 will cause a shift in the rotative position fof the support 34, thereby shifting the circumferential location of the arc about which it oscillates, but without changing the length of that oscillating arc.

The sprinkler imit proper, generally designated 94, cornprises -a plurality of sprinkler tubes, here shown as three in number, and designated `96, 98 and 100l respectively. Ends 96:1-161111 of the tubes are received `in openings 102 formed lin a bracket 104, that bracket 104 having an out- Wardly extending part 196 which is rotatably mounted and received in the opening 14 in the housing 10 (see FIG. 6). The outer ends fof the openings 102 are internally threaded, land screw plugs 108 are threadedly received therein, sealing rings 110 being interposed between the heads of the screws 108 and the end surface of the bracket 104 for sealing purposes, comparable sealing rings 112 being interposed between the tubes 96--100 and the ends of the bracket openings 104 opposite from the 4 plugs 108. The openings 1112 are so positioned in the bracket 194 as to retain the tube ends 96rz-1iltla in fixed circumferentially spaced relationship, preferably equidistantly circumferentially spaced from one another.

The bodies of the tubes t6-101il may be arched outwardly, and are provided with Ka plurality of fluid escape orifices 114. The number, arrangement and `orientation of the oriices 114 in each tube 96-1601 will differ `from the corresponding characteristics `of the orifices in the other tubes, thereby to cause fluid escaping from those orifices 114 to cover different patterns of ground. As here speciiically disclosed the differences in the arrangement of the orifices 114 in the several tubes are such as to cause them to sprinkle areas of different widths, the tube 96 having the least number of orices 114 so as to sprinkle an area of minimal width, the tube 98 having the largest number of orifices 114 so as to sprinkle an area of maximum vwidth, and the tube '109 having an intermediate number of orifices 114 so as to sprinkle an area `of intermediate width.

The other ends 96b-1itlb of the tubes 96-166 are mounted in openings 116 -in bracket 118, yalso in iixed circumferentially spaced relationship to one another. The bracket 118 is provided with a central opening v120 which is received fover the post 5b on the support 34, and which is retained thereon by retaining washer 122 and screw 124, the latter being received in the -post opening 52. The bracket 118 is provided with a laterally extending flange 125 adapted to overlie the detent ball 60, the surface of that flange 12d `facing that ball 60 being provided with a plurality :of depressions 126, one corresponding to each tube 961-166, each of the depressions 126 being so located that when the detent ball 6@ is received therein the corresponding tube 96-160 is brought into registration with the out-let opening 54 in the support 34, the sealing ring S6 surrounding the opening 116 in the bracket 118 so `as to prevent any leakage `of uid between the facing surfaces of the support 34 and the bracket 113.

The manner of functioning of the structure of the present invention will in the main be apparent from the above description. The operator will select for operative use a given one of the tubes 96-100, depending upon the area to be sprinkled. He wil then rotate the subassembly comprising the tubes 96-1019 and the brackets 104 and 118, while holding the support 34 stationary, until the desired tube 96-100 has been brought into registration with the fluid outlet opening 54 in the support 34. Suitable indicia may be provided on the bracket 118 and the support 34 to indicate the proper relative positioning of the parts for diiierent desired results. The tube 96-100 thus selected and moved into operative position will normally become the uppermost tube. Thus, as viewed in FIGS. l and 2, the tube 98 is in operative position, the sprinkler therefore being conditioned to sprinkle an area of maximum width.

Next, by manipulation of the handle 94, which shifts the position of the part 74 relative to the bracket 82 which extends from the support 34, the location of the sprinkled area relative to the sprinkler is selected. In the form here specifically disclosed that location can be either altogether to one side of the base 2 or equally on both sides thereof, thus two conditions being represented by the legends side and full shown in FIG. 4.

When the sprinkler is connected to a source of liuid and iiuid is caused to flow, it will enter the housing 16 and actuate the iiuid motor therein, causing rotation of the drive shaft 22 and oscillation of the support 34. The iiuid will ilow through the housing 16 into the tube 24 and from there through the chambers 42 and 46 and the exit opening 54 into the selected and operatively positioned tube, here shown as the tube 98. The fluid will escape from the tube 98 via the exit orifices 114 provided therein. At the same time the tube 98 is being oscillated, moving with the support 34, so as to cause the spray to cover the predetermined area of ground.

The tubes 96 and 100 oscillate with the tube 98, but are inoperative, since no fluid enters them. They are individually rendered operative only when a given one of them is moved into registration with the outlet opening 54 on the support 34.

By means of this construction an oscillating sprinkler is produced which, while sprinkling, has all of the advantages of prior oscillating type sprinklers, and which can be adjusted in a simple and relatively foolproof manner so as to sprinkle areas of different patterns, such as areas of different widths. The construction involves parts which are easy to manufacture and assemble, and which add only minimally to the cost of the device. In addition, the construction is such as to facilitate the cleaning of the sprinkling tubes 96-100 in the event that they, or their exit orifices 114, become clogged with foreign matter.

While but a single embodiment of the present invention has been specifically disclosed, it will be apparent that many variations may be made therein, all within the scope of the instant invention, as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A lawn sprinkler comprising a base having first and second spaced standards, said first standard having a first fluid passage therethrough leading to a first outlet opening facing said second standard, a fluid-operated motor, a support mounted on said one standard so as to be rotatable about a first axis passing through said first outlet opening and comprising a body facing said second standard and having a second fluid passage therethrough communicating with said first outlet opening and extending to a second outlet opening radially spaced from said axis, means operatively connected between said motor and said support for causing said support to oscillate about said first axis, and a sprinkler assembly comprising a plurality of independent tubes having differently arranged outlet orifices and each having an inlet end, the inlet ends of said tubes all being at a first end of said assembly, and a pair of spaced bracket means operatively connected to said tubes to form a rigid assembly therewith, said assembly at the second end thereof being rotatably mounted on said second standard by one of said bracket means, said assembly extending to and, at its first end, being rotatably adjustably mounted on said support by the second of said bracket means, said second bracket means being adjustably rotatably mounted on said support to position a selected tube inlet end in alignment with and seated in fluid communication with said second outlet opening, and means to hold such selected tube in said seated position relative to said support during oscillation of said support.

2. A lawn sprinkler comprising a base having first and second spaced standards, said first standard having a first fluid passage therethrough leading to a first outlet opening facing said second standard, a fiuid-operated motor, a support mounted on said one standard so as to be rotatable about a first axis passing through said first outlet opening and comprising a body facing said second standard and having a second fluid passage therethrough communicating with said first outlet opening and extending to a second outlet opening radially spaced from said axis and facing said second standard, means operatively connected between said motor and said support for causing said support to oscillate about said first axis, and a sprinkler assembly comprising a plurality of independent tubes having differently arranged outlet orifices and each having an inlet end, the inlet ends of said tubes all being at a first end of said assembly, and a pair of spaced bracket means operatively connected to said tubes to form a rigid assembly therewith, said assembly at the second end thereof being rotatably mounted on said second standard by one of said bracket means, said assembly extending to and, at its first end, being rotatably adjustably mounted on said support by the secvond of said bracket means, said second bracket means being adjustably rotatably mounted on said support to position a selected tube inlet end in alignment with and seated in fluid communication with said second outlet opening, and means to hold such selected tube in said seated position relative to said support during oscillation of said support.

3. A lawn sprinkler comprising a base having a pair of spaced standards, a support mounted for oscillation on one standard and having a fluid passage leading to an outlet opening therein, a sprinkler assembly comprising a plurality of independent tubes having differently arranged outlet orifices and each having an inlet end, the inlet ends of said tubes all being at a first end of said assembly, and a pair of spaced bracket means operatively connected to said tubes to form therewith a rigid assembly, said assembly at the second end thereof being rotatably mounted on the other standard by one of said bracket means, said assembly extending to and, at its first end, being rotatably adjustably mounted on said support by the second of said bracket means, said second bracket means being adjustably rotatably mounted on said support to position a selected tube inlet end in alignment with and seated in fluid communication with said outlet opening, means to hold such selected tube in said seated position relative to said support during oscillation of the support, and means operatively connected to said sprinkler assembly and said support for driving them together in oscillation.

4. A lawn sprinkler comprising a base having a pair of spaced standards, a support mounted for oscillation on one standard and having a fluid passage leading to an outlet opening therein facing said other standard, a sprinkler assembly comprising a plurality of independent tubes having differently arranged outlet orifices and each having an inlet end, the inlet ends of said tubes all being at a first end of said assembly, and a pair of spaced bracket means operatively connected to said tubes to form therewith a rigid assembly, said assembly at the second end thereof being rotatably mounted on the other standard by one of said bracket means, said assembly extending to and, at its first end, being rotatably adjustably mounted on said support by the second of said bracket means, said second bracket means being adjustably rotatably mounted on said support to position a selected tube inlet end in alignment with and seated in fluid communication with said outlet opening, means to hold such selected tube in said seated position relative to said support during oscillation of the support and means operatively connected to said sprinkler assembly and said support for driving them together in oscillation.

5. A lawn sprinkler comprising a base having a pair of spaced standards, one of said standards having a first fluid passage therethrough leading to a first outlet opening, a support mounted for oscillation on said one standard and having a second fluid passage leading from said first outlet opening on said standard to a second outlet opening on said support, a sprinkler assembly comprising a plurality of independent tubes having differently arranged outlet orifices and each having an inlet end, the inlet ends of said tubes all being at a first end of said assembly, and a pair of spaced bracket means operatively connected to said tubes to form a rigid assembly therewith, said assembly at the second end thereof being rotatably mounted on the other standard by one of said bracket means, said assembly extending to and, at its first end, being rotatably adjustably mounted on said support by the second of said bracket means, said second bracket means being adjustably rotatably mounted on said support to position a selected tube inlet end into alignment with and seated in fluid communication with said second outlet openings, means to hold such selected tube in said seated position relative to said support during oscillation of the support, and means operatively connected to said sprinkler assembly and said support for driving them together in oscillation.

6. A lawn sprinkler comprising a base having a pair of spaced standards, one of said standards having a first fluid passage therethrough leading to a first outlet opening, a support mounted for oscillation on said one standard and having a second fluid passage leading from said rst outlet opening on said standard to a second outlet opening on said support, said second outlet opening facing said other standard, a sprinkler assembly comprising a plurality of independent tubes having differently arranged outlet orifices and each having an inlet end, the inlet ends of said tubes all being at a first end of said assembly, and a pair of spaced bracket means operatively connected to said tubes to form a rigid assembly therewith, said assembly at the second end thereof. being rotatably mounted on the other standard by one of said bracket means, said assembly extending to and, at its first end, being rotatably adjustably mounted on said support by the second of said bracket means, said second bracket means being adjustably rotatably mounted on said support to position a selected tube inlet end into alignment with and seated in fluid communication with said second outlet opening, means to hold such selected tube in said seated position relative to said support during oscillation of the support, and means operatively connected to said sprinkler assembly and said support for driving them together in oscillation.

7. A lawn sprinkler comprising a base having a pair of spaced standards, one of said standards having a rst fluid passage therethrough leading to a first outlet opening facing said other standard, a support mounted for oscillation on said one standard and having a second fluid passage leading from said first outlet opening on said standard to a second outlet opening on said support, a sprinkler assembly comprising a plurality of independent tubes having differently arranged outlet orifices and each having an inlet end, the inlet ends of said tubes all being at a first end of said assembly, and a pair of spaced bracket means operatively connected to said tubes to form a rigid assembly therewith, said assembly at the second end thereof being rotatably mounted on the other standard by one of said bracket means, said assembly extending to and, at its first end, being rotatably adjustably mounted on said support by the second of said bracket means, said second bracket means being adjustably rotatably mounted on said support to position a selected tube inlet end into alignment with and seated in fluid communication with said second outlet opening, means to hold such selected tube in said seated position relative to said support during oscillation of the support, and means operatively connected to said sprinkler assembly and said support for driving them together in oscillation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 580,142 Nielsen et al Apr. 6, 1897 1,173,771 Cook Feb. 29, 1916 1,517,664 Bergquist Dec. 2, 1924 1,554,521 Reece Sept. 22, 1925 2,943,796 Smith Mar. 15, 1957 2,992,779 James et al. July 18, 1961 3,094,283 Balister June 18, 1963 

3. A LAWN SPRINKLER COMPRISING A BASE HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED STANDARDS, A SUPPORT MOUNTED FOR OSCILLATION ON ONE STANDARD AND HAVING A FLUID PASSAGE LEADING TO AN OUTLET OPENING THEREIN, A SPRINKLER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF INDEPENDENT TUBES HAVING DIFFERENTLY ARRANGED OUTLET ORIFICES AND EACH HAVING AN INLET END, THE INLET ENDS OF SAID TUBES ALL BEING AT A FIRST END OF SAID ASSEMBLY, AND A PAIR OF SPACED BRACKET MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID TUBES TO FORM THEREWITH A RIGID ASSEMBLY, SAID ASSEMBLY AT THE SECOND END THEREOF BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE OTHER STANDARD BY ONE OF SAID BRACKET MEANS, SAID ASSEMBLY EXTENDING TO AND, AT ITS FIRST END, BEING ROTATABLY ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT BY THE SECOND OF SAID BRACKET MEANS, SAID SECOND BRACKET MEANS BEING ADJUSTABLY ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT TO POSITION A SELECTED TUBE INLET END IN ALIGNMENT WITH AND SEATED IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID OUTLET OPENING, MEANS TO HOLD SUCH SELECTED TUBE IN SAID SEATED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORT DURING OSCILLATION OF THE SUPPORT, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SPRINKLER ASSEMBLY AND SAID SUPPORT FOR DRIVING THEM TOGETHER IN OSCILLATION. 